Stephen Knapp

Stephen F. Knapp, CFA, is Portfolio Manager and Director of Research at Carderock Capital Management Inc., an independent SEC-registered investment advisor based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In his current role, he oversees equity research and portfolio management, focusing on investment strategy, asset allocation, and security selection for client portfolios across the Washington, DC region. His responsibilities include analyzing economic trends, balancing sector allocations, and steering investment decisions toward quality growth equities, high-grade bonds, and interest-rate sensitive sectors such as housing, industrials, and construction.

Knapp's investment philosophy emphasizes prudent risk management and tax efficiency, with a particular focus on quality growth companies and broader market opportunities outside traditional technology stocks. He avoids investments in profitless energy sectors, instead prioritizing portfolios comprising equities, treasury bills, and diversified bond maturities. His regular market commentary underscores attention to macroeconomic factors affecting sectors like defense, industrials, and housing, adapting strategies to evolving interest rate environments and global geopolitical developments.

Prior to joining Carderock Capital in 2020, Knapp spent nearly a decade at S&P Global Market Intelligence, gaining deep expertise in financial analysis and data-driven investment research. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The College of William & Mary and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). His analytical skills and sector expertise have contributed to Carderock's reputation for client-focused portfolio management and thoughtful market outlooks.